Yellow Longbill
Macrosphenus flavicans
An unusual warbler with a long bill and yellow eyes. Brownish above and dull yellow below with a gray head and whitish throat. Found in rainforest, mainly in dense tangles at middle levels, usually in pairs or small groups. Similar in appearance to other longbills, but with a good view, separated by the coloration of the underparts. Most often detected by the distinctive song: a long series of clear whistled notes in which each note is slightly lower in pitch. The pattern is similar to that of Sabine’s Puffback, and the individual notes sound very batis-like.
Identification
The yellow longbill, on average, measures 13 cm from bill to tail and weighs 11-16g. It is medium in size. It has a short tail and a black long straight bill with a small hook at the tip. It has a yellow iris and greenish-yellow underparts. It is dark olive-gray at the top of its head. Its feathers transition to dark olive-green on the upperparts and upper wing and become yellow-tinged on long loose feathers on the back and rump. Sexes are alike in plumage, male being larger than female. The yellow longbill has a span of life of 3.6 years. The current population trend of the yellow longbill is stable. The number of mature individuals is unknown, as is the continuing decline of mature individuals.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Macrosphenus flavicans
- Authority
- Cassin, 1859
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Macrosphenidae
- Genus
- Macrosphenus
Range and habitat
The yellow longbill's habitat is in the forest, more specifically the subtropical and tropical moist lowland. Lowland habitats are of the lower and middle levels, including the primary and secondary forest. These forest habitat lowlands involve edges, clearings and logged areas. Lowlands range to levels of 1000-1400m in Uganda and to 1800m in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The geographic range for the yellow longbill includes Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Nigeria, South Sudan, Sudan, United Republic of Tanzania, and Uganda. Specific distributions for subspecies have been identified. The Macrosphenus flavicans flavicans subspecies is distributed throughout extreme southeast Nigeria, Bioko, and southwest and south Cameroon south to lower River Congo and northwest Angola. The Macrosphenus flavicans hypochondriacus subspecies is distributed throughout southeast Central African Republic, southwest South Sudan (Bengangai Forest), north, central, and east Democratic Republic of the Congo, west and south Uganda and northwest Tanzania (Minziro Forest).
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
The conservation status of the yellow longbill is classified as of least concern. This classification was assessed on October 1, 2016. They are not globally threatened. They are common in many areas of their range. Two discrete populations of the yellow longbill exist in forests of West and Central Africa. There are few conservation actions in place for the yellow longbill. There are no in-place research and monitoring actions. There are land and water identified conservation sites in place. There are no species management or education conservation actions in place.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Chestnut Munia
Lonchura atricapilla
A small, plump reddish brown finch with a black head and thick silvery-blue bill. Immatures are plain sandy brown with slightly darker wings. Often seen in flocks, usually in grassy areas, including lawns, but also marshes and rice paddies; prefers wetter areas than Scaly-breasted Munia. Gives soft pipping and clinking notes; song includes quiet slurred whistles and bill clicks. Native to southeastern Asia, but introduced to numerous areas including the Hawaiian Islands, Japan, Ecuador, and Jamaica.
Common Jery
Neomixis tenella
Small, energetic, sharp-billed warbler. Always shows gray on the back of the neck and usually a lightly striped throat, though there is regional variation. Madagascar endemic that is found in all habitats with some woody vegetation, including forest, scrub, savanna, plantations, and villages. Often joins flocks with other small bird species. Song is a squeaky, bouncing series of high notes. Gray on the back of the neck separates it from all other jeries. Larger and brighter than Green Jery. Smaller than Stripe-throated Jery, with pale legs.
Western Nicator
Nicator chloris
An unusual bushshrike-like bird with a heavy hooked bill, olive-green above and pale below with bold white spotting on the wings. The yellow corners of the tail can be conspicuous in flight. Found in rainforest, gallery forest, thickets, lush secondary habitat, and dense woodland. Skulking and secretive, usually remaining in tangled understory and mid-level vegetation. Very similar to Eastern Nicator, but their ranges do not overlap. Also similar to Yellow-throated Nicator, but larger, without a bright yellow throat and streak above the eye. Very vocal and most often detected by voice; the song is a quick jumble of wooden notes, and the common call is a penetrating “chaak.”
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